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Review of the Excellent Skoda Octavia Estate 4x4

Most of us have memories of when Skoda was definitely not in its prime. Classed in the same league as a 'Lada' (sorry Lada owners) it wasn't exactly the most popular type of car that you could own. The manufacturers did an excellent job of completely switching general consumer perception completely on its head, and reinventing the Skoda brand with many visually and functionally excellent vehicles, including the recent 2013 Skoda Octavia 4x4 estate car.

The new 2013 Skoda Octavia looks great and is excellent as a family car in many aspects.

Engines, Fuel Economy & Costs

This 4x4 estate is available in a range of different engine choices, ranging from the frugal 1.2l to the 2 litre TDI. If you're looking for a good balance between power, fuel economy and purchase costs then you'll want to take a look at the 1.6 diesel. It has a reasonable purchase price for a family four wheel drive at around £23,000 and offers a truly excellent MPG averaging around 73mpg. Please note that the 4x4 version is only available on certain TDI models so make sure you check this out first when buying to make sure the car your looking at has the all-wheel drive feature..

The 1.6l version of the Skoda estate will give you enough power to manage all situations you might encounter, however it is a bit noisy when pushed. When you consider the fuel economy and low purchase price, it's an excellent combination of power and cost savings.

A Feature & Gadget Packed Vehicle

Skoda have crammed tons of gadgets into even the entry level Octavia including air conditioning, bluetooth, USB ports and cruise control and leather seats in the 'Elegance' level of trim. If you're in the market for buying a new car you can configure the vehicle to your exact specification, adding all manner of gadgets and safety features that will help to truly set this car apart. You might not have heard of it before, but it also incorporates a 'driver fatigue sensor' and lane departure sensor. These are excellent safety features that will hopefully be incorporated into many more cars in the future. It is no doubt due to all of the safety enhancements that the vehicle scores 5 stars in a recent Euroncap safety test. Here's a video from Skoda of the driver fatigue sensor in action:

Practicality as a Four Wheel Drive

The all-wheel drive option obviously gives you the safety and knowledge that a 4x4 offers. For example the vehicle will be a lot more secure and able to handle slippy roads, bad weather and more. Unlike other cars such as the Landrover Defender, the Octavia Estate isn't a car you'd want to be doing regular off-roading. It should be treated more as a refined family car with the capability to get out of sticky situations when they are encountered, rather than purposefully seeking out mud tracks. In the original Octavia models (prior to the facelift model) it featured a higher ground clearance and Haldex Traction four wheel drive system.

The new 2013 Skoda Octavia has tons of features even on the basic trim level.

Summary of the Octavia

The Octavia is an excellent family estate 4x4 and is absolutely jammed with gadgets and features that will keep the most technologically hungry individuals happy. In terms of cost it offers a huge amount of car and features for the money, and when combined with the exceptional fuel economy it would make a perfect versatile family car. The huge boot and luggage space would also be beneficial for those with pets, or those that plan to regularly travel with lots of luggage.